Treadmill

ABSTRACT

A treadmill comprised of two pedal assemblies for the user to tread alternatively with both feet up and down; each pedal assembly having at its base pivoted with a front and a rear dancer; the tails of both dancers being respectively pivoted to the front and the rear ends of a pedal; a linking member being disposed at where between both pedal assemblies; and both pedals normally maintaining horizontal status as both pedal assemblies alternatively move up and down to allow user to easily maintain balance and better mobility for both feet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to fitness equipment, and more particularly to a treadmill that allows simple structure, easy maintenance of balance, and better mobility for both feet of its user.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Whereas most fitness equipments generally available in the market simulate the motion patterns of outdoor sports, the user of the fitness equipment is able to work out within a confined room while achieving the equivalent fitness results in the open air. For example, a treadmill allows it user to alternatively tread on both pedals in simulating the walking pattern to achieve the purposes of sports and staying fit.

The treadmill of the prior art is essentially comprised of two pedals having their front ends pivoted to a base and both pedals are connected to a hydraulic cylinder with a rope or a steel cable to alternatively move both pedals up and done by taking advantage of the damping from the hydraulic cylinder to maintain coordination between the motion of both pedals. Meanwhile, the hydraulic cylinder provides proper resistance to the motion of both pedals to demand more workout load from the user.

However, the production cost of the prior art is higher and the construction of having the hydraulic cylinder to regulate the treading force is more complicated. The higher cost directly affects the market competition strength of the prior art. In practical use, as the pedal rises higher, the angle of forward inclination gets bigger to put the user to expose to sports injuries since the mobility of his both feet are restricted while having difficulties to keep balanced and failing to relax for managing to stay balanced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a treadmill that allows easier maintenance of balance and better mobility for both feet of its user. To achieve the purpose, the present invention is essentially comprised of two pedal assemblies with each having at the base pivoted to a front and a rear dancers and the tail of each dancer being respectively pivoted to the front and the rear of a pedal. A linking member pivoted to a shaft is disposed at where between two pedal assemblies while two connection rods being respectively linked to where between the rear dancers and the linking member of both pedal assemblies.

Accordingly, two rear dancers from both pedal assemblies that reciprocally swing relatively to each other to create the treading pattern due to the traction from both connection rods and the linking member. Both pedals in the process of the motion by both pedal assemblies are normally maintaining in horizontal status for the user to easily keep balanced and have better mobility for both feet.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a treadmill that the force exerted on both pedal assemblies can be regulated. To achieve the purpose, an upper clamping plate and a lower clamping plate are respectively pivoted to the shaft at where above and below the linking member. A first bolt is installed to both clamping plates at where they are in relation to another end of the shaft. A resistance plate disposed to the linking member extends to the peripheral of the first bolt, and the resistance plate slides between both clamping plates as the linking member swings laterally in conjunction with the vertical motion executed by both pedal assemblies. Accordingly, by adjusting the spacing between the first bolt and both clamping plates, the sliding capability of the resistance plate is changed, thus to achieve the purpose of regulating the force applied by the user onto both pedal assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bird's eye view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the motion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a construction of peripheral elements to the linking members of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing that the preferred embodiment is collapsed for storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment for a treadmill of the present invention is essentially comprised of a base 10, and two pedal assemblies 20 adapted to the base 10 for the user to tread on with both feet. Each pedal assembly includes a pedal 23 and both pedals are laid out at a given included angle for the treading pattern to be even more close to that of the practical exercise.

Wherein, each pedal assembly 20 has at the base 10 pivoted with a front dancer 21 and a rear dancer 22. Each tail of the front and the rear dancers 21, 22 is pivoted to the front and the rear of the pedal 23. A linking member 30 pivoted to a shaft 41 is disposed at where between both pedal assemblies 20. Two connection rods 32 are respectively coupled to where between both rear dancers and the linking member 30. Accordingly, while the user has both feet to tread on both pedals 23, both pedal assemblies 20 alternatively move up and down through both connection rods 32 and traction from the linking member 30 to produce the fitness purpose by treading as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the process of the motion executed by both pedal assemblies 20, both pedals 23 normally maintain in horizontal status due to the linkage for motion by both front and rear dancers 21, 22 to allow the user to easily keep balanced and more mobility to his both feet, and further to avoid sports injuries without compromising the agile treading pattern and tempo. A buffer member 11 comprised of a compression coil is provided to the base at where in relation to the rear end of the pedal 23 to alleviate the impact force produced as the pedal presses down.

Now referring to FIG. 4, an upper clamping plate 42 and a lower clamping plate 43 are pivoted to the shaft respectively at where above and below the linking member 30. A first bolt 51 inserts through both of the upper and the lower clamping plates 42, 43 at their ends in opposite to the shaft 41, and a resistance 31 disposed to the linking member 30 extends to the peripheral of the first bolt 51. The resistance plate 31 slides between both of the upper and the lower clamping plates 42, 32 as the linking member 30 swings laterally in conjunction with the vertical movement executed by both pedal assemblies 20. Therefore, the spacing between both of the upper and the lower clamping plates 42,43 is adjusted by turning the first bolt 51 so to change the sliding capability of the first bolt 51, thus to regulate the force applied by the user onto both pedals 23. A friction plate 55 that contacts the resistance plate 31 is provided between both of the upper and the lower clamping plates 42, 43, and a resilient pad 56 made of rubber or similar material is disposed at where between the first bolt 51 and the upper clamping plate 42 to define a proper friction against the resistance plate 31 by both of the friction plate 55 and the resilient pad 56.

Furthermore, a base plate 55 is disposed to the base at where at the rear end of the shaft 41 and a second bolt 52 is laterally mounted to the base plate 55. The tail of the second bolt 52 and the lower end of the shaft 41 push against each other so to change the relative positions of the linking member 30 and both pedal assemblies 20 by changing the angle of the shaft 41 through the second bolt 52, and thus to regulate the height of the pedal 23. A hexagonal nut 53 is each mounted to the top of the first bolt 51 and that of the second bolt 52 to allow the user to turn both of the first and the second bolts 51, 52 for regulating the force applied to and the height of both pedals 23 without relying upon any hand tool.

The prevent invention provides an improved construction of a treadmill, and the application for a utility patent is duly filed accordingly. However, it is to be noted that that the preferred embodiments disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are not limiting the present invention; and that any construction, installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes and claims of the present invention. 

1. A treadmill is essentially comprised of a base and two pedal assemblies that alternatively move up and down; each pedal assembly including a pedal, and pivoted at the base a front dancer and a rear dancer; both ends of the front and the rear dancers being respectively pivoted to the front and the rear of the pedal; a linking member provided between both pedal assemblies being pivoted to a shaft; and two connection rods being respectively coupled to where between the rear dancers of both pedal assemblies and the linking member.
 2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein an upper clamping plate and a lower clamping plate are pivoted to the shaft respectively at where above and below the linking member; a first bolt inserted through both clamping plates at their ends opposite to the shaft; a resistance plate disposed to the linking member extending to the peripheral of the first bolt; the resistance plate sliding between both of the upper and the lower clamping plates; and the spacing between both of the upper and the lower clamping being adjustable to change the sliding capability of the resistance plate thus to regulate the force applied by the user to both pedal assemblies.
 3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein a second bolt is laterally provided to the base at the rear end of the shaft; the tail of the second bolt and the lower end of the shaft pushing against each other; and the angle of the shaft being adjustable by turning the second bolt to change the relative positions between the linking member and both pedal assemblies, thus to adjust the height of the pedal.
 4. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein a base plate is disposed to the base to be fastened by the second bolt.
 5. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein a friction plate that contacts the resistance plate is disposed between the upper and the lower clamping plates.
 6. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein a resilient pad is provided between the first bolt and the upper clamping plate.
 7. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein buffer member is provided to the base at where in relation to the rear end of the pedal.
 8. The treadmill of claim 6, wherein the buffer member relates to a compression coil.
 9. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein both pedal assemblies are laid out at a given included angle.
 10. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the first bolt is provided at its top a nut.
 11. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein both of the first and the second bolts are each disposed at their tops a nut. 